Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I have my first "real" fantasy tournament this weekend at the local Games Workshop. It's going to be several rounds and take basically the whole day. I've been to one similar event, for 40k last year.

I was wondering if people could post some common tips? I'm wondering things like:

-Will my opponent give me his army list?
-When I give him mine, is it OK if I've blacked out the magic items (or not listed them at all) and just listed the total cost for the unit?
-Tips on playing fast (my games tend to run long and time will be limited)?
-Tips on not getting a fast one pulled on me?

I know having the army list will help, but in a friendly game two weeks ago my opponent took an illeagal list! However, I'm not sure if having lists for each opponent will be required, or if we'll only be required to turn in a list to the staff. I know everyone should have extras, but they might not. I guess I'll just write down what they have, then?

One tip I've already received from an opponent is to write down the spells that I generate on my army list (I guess I'll keep a copy for myself) so that it doesn't appear like I'm switching my spells up later on.

A general compository of these kinds of tips might be a good idea for a sticky. It probably will get asked all the time now that there is a dedicated forum for this, by new tourney players like myself. If there is a good thread with these tips already, please direct me that way

RiTides wrote:
-Will my opponent give me his army list?

In 40k you exchange lists at the beginning of the game, in Fantasy you do it at the end of the game.

-When I give him mine, is it OK if I've blacked out the magic items (or not listed them at all) and just listed the total cost for the unit?

See above, it is important that he knows what you brought at the end of the game.

-Tips on playing fast (my games tend to run long and time will be limited)?

Best thing is to be aware that there is a time limit and that will help remind you to speed it up. If you have a phone with a timer you can set it at the time limit, you can set in on the table and it will tell you how much time you have left. Getting your opponent to move faster though is another thing, and that takes time and practice. For example, you remind them of the time limit if they pause to they think too much, or near the end of the game you tell them that you would like to get in 2 more turns which reminds them to hurry etc.

-Tips on not getting a fast one pulled on me?

For the most part only experience can tell you these things. The more tournaments you go to, the better you become and the more aware you are of everything.

I know having the army list will help, but in a friendly game two weeks ago my opponent took an illeagal list! However, I'm not sure if having lists for each opponent will be required, or if we'll only be required to turn in a list to the staff. I know everyone should have extras, but they might not. I guess I'll just write down what they have, then?

As a general rule, you should bring at least 2 lists. One for you/opponent to look at, and one to turn into the judges. Experienced tournament players bring 2 more than the number of rounds. That way you can give each of your opponents one list to keep, turn one into the judges, and then have one left over for you to reference during your last game.

One tip I've already received from an opponent is to write down the spells that I generate on my army list (I guess I'll keep a copy for myself) so that it doesn't appear like I'm switching my spells up later on.

Army builder lets you print out the spells, and I just cross out the ones that I did not get. But it is good to write them down so you can remember, and your opponent can see what is there.

A general compository of these kinds of tips might be a good idea for a sticky. It probably will get asked all the time now that there is a dedicated forum for this, by new tourney players like myself. If there is a good thread with these tips already, please direct me that way

Bolter and Chainsword has a good guide to tournaments that I helped them with. I have been meaning to do one here, but I have not gotten around to it.

General tips for all tournments.
1. Bring your own dice, tape measure, army book, copy for the rules, templates.
2. Bring a bottle of water, candy bar, gum/ breath mints (not just for you, for them opponents!)
3. Bring a copy of your army roster printed, not hand written, for yourself, 1 judge, 1 for each round.
4. Ask ahead if its an open tournment list.
5. Shake hands for your opponents, introduce yourself, even before picking table sides.
6. Consider a Display board/ TV tray style moving system for your army.
7. Bring a writing implement, a jotting pad, and a calculator that is small.
8. Don't go into your first event thinking your going to win, go for the experience of seeing what's out there.

Wow, I didn't realize about not handing the list over at the beginning of the game (for fantasy). You're sure about that one?

I'll also ask ahead if it's an open list tournament (thanks njpc). They didn't make any mention of this, so I'm assuming it's not, but you never know...

Be polite, civilized, and have a plan to cream everyone you meet. Other than that, see above.

Don't black out anything. That would be a TFG manuaver.

G

Not to thread-jack, but I was also going to eventually enter a tourney, 40k however, and was just wondering what to expect.

About blacking out things on the list- this was my first thought of how to handle the fact that in fantasy, you apparently don't have to reveal magic items. I wasn't sure how to print out a list without listing them, so for a friendly game I blacked them out (assuming my opponent would also give me a list with no magic items listed).

It turned out he usually played open lists, so I just told him what I had. I thought that blacking them out seemed like a bad move, after the fact!

But if I'm going to hand someone my list before a game, it will need to not include my magic items, right? Or do I only give it to them after the game, like the above poster said?

Forgive my ignorance, for some reason I can't seem to get a clear answer on a good way to do this. It seems to vary person to person, depending on the gaming environment. I was hoping for a tournament there would be a more standardized way of handling it.

This is a fantasy-only issue, so I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has participated in fantasy tournaments about what they do regarding their magic items and the lists they give to opponents.

Best thing to do about the "open list" question is to contact the Tourney organizer and see what rules he is enforcing along those lines.

RiTides wrote:This is a fantasy-only issue, so I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has participated in fantasy tournaments about what they do regarding their magic items and the lists they give to opponents.

You can make a neat barebones armylist that doesn't show point values & magic items which is then given to your opponents at the start of the game. It's pretty much an extension to telling them about what equipment and such your guys have. Of course you should keep a proper army list around too and show it to your opponent after the game if he wants to see it. (This only applies to closed list enviroment, which seems to be the default at least in Europe. )

Example of the normal & barebones list:

Normal:

Warriors of Chaos - 750 pts
Characters:
Exalted Champion of Slaneesh - General
Great Weapon, Shield, Armor of Damnation
-173
Core:
20 Marauders of Slaneesh
Full Command, Shields, Light Armor
-150
5 Marauder Horsemen
Musician, Flails, Throwing Axes, Light Armor
-96
5 Chaos Warhounds #1
-30
5 Chaos Warhounds #2
-30
Special:
5 Chaos Knights of Slaneesh
Standard,Musician,Warbanner
-265

=744

Same in "barebones":

Warriors of Chaos - 750 pts
Characters:
Exalted Champion of Slaneesh - General
Great Weapon, Shield

Core:
20 Marauders of Slaneesh
Full Command, Shields, Light Armor

5 Marauder Horsemen
Musician, Flails, Throwing Axes, Light Armor

5 Chaos Warhounds #1

5 Chaos Warhounds #2

Special:
5 Chaos Knights of Slaneesh
Standard,Musician

So your opponents are OK with you listing it out generally, without the points values? I wasn't sure if I was required to put the points values in so they know what's worth what.

Around here, the friendly gaming environment seems to be one of "open lists". However, I think the tournament will be closed... I'll call today to check.

RiTides wrote:So your opponents are OK with you listing it out generally, without the points values? I wasn't sure if I was required to put the points values in so they know what's worth what.

Well... yes. The key point in having closed list game is that the opponent doesn't know the magic item loadout of units and characters, and with point values listed, the presence of such can be easily spotted if not their exact nature.

Makes sense! I'd noticed that, since obviously they can add up the points on my wizard and realize he's got a dispel scroll

I think there might be an easier way to explain this - there are "open list" tournaments and "closed list" tournaments. Just ask your TO (tournament organizer) which one it is and how he defines it.

Random suggestion from me:
I always appreciate when someone is friendly, makes eye contact, and takes opportunities to make chat and have a laugh during the game. Otherwise, I might as well catch up on painting then plod through the turns with a humorless grouch!

- Blackbone

Best thing to do: Enjoy yourself! Tournaments are good fun.

And what everyone else said, too!

Good luck.

Shower in the morning if you can and brush your teeth. Its not fun when your opponent's smell can make your eyes water.

Regwon wrote:Shower in the morning if you can and brush your teeth. Its not fun when your opponent's smell can make your eyes water.

Unless you are playing a Nurgle Daemon army, then you get bonus points for theme in my book.

Reecius wrote:Best thing to do: Enjoy yourself! Tournaments are good fun.

Amen. Have fun. All else is secondary.

Worry more about having a good time both you and your opponent, come up with some great fun stories about incredible events that happened in the game, make some new friends with similar hobby interests, and treat people like you would like to be treated.

I agree with NJPC. I learned how to play 40K at 2 turnaments. the first turny, I never played a game.
Being Nice and a good sport gets you real far.
The 2nd game my opponent used to play Sisters (what I was playing) I got help from my opponent!! He made tact suggestions that made me do better aginst him.

We had to supply a typed army list to the turny staff. I had a list for me with all the unit stats. I would use a new sheet for each game to make notes of Faith points and what damage each vehicle took.